want to know more please.

[mcarlito]

I came upon a boat for sale the other day. On the for sale sign it says: 1988 Glastron 19', 4 cyl/45mph, 153 hours. and that's it. I looked at the stern drive and it's an alpha 1. Can anyone fill in the blanks on this boat?? What's the hp? Is this a bad year for these type of engines? What do think of I/0 stern drive in general?<br />Thanks alot for any input on the post. This is a great site, I use it alot and has helped me get my boat up and running.<br />Mike and sons Zach and Jonathan digging the boat thing.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: want to know more please.

an 88 with 153 hours is warrented to be a neglected POS. the bellows and fuel system will most likly need attention as will the cooling system. most the time the maint is neglected cause it has only 153 hours. the motor is anyones guess. depends on if it was repowered or was the engine the same year as the hull. most the 19 glastrons used the 2.5 or 3.0. occasionally I will hit one that has the 3.7. you will need the decal or engine seriel number to tell.

 

[mcarlito]

Re: want to know more please.

Thanks for the input but can you tell me what POS means?? Also where do I find the serial number on the engine?<br />Thank you very much

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: want to know more please.

Piece of sh!t.... ...J

 

[mcarlito]

Re: want to know more please.

POS hmmmm I hope this is not the case but you just never know. <br />What would be the logical sequence for checking out a boat that has been sitting for a long time? How would I test the engine if it wasn't started in a few years but ran well when it did run?? Will I damage anything if I try to start it??<br />Thanks again

 

[novicetech]

Re: want to know more please.

If it has not been started in a few years remove the spark plugs and place about a teaspoon of motor oil in each spark plug hole then if theres a way, turn it over by hand a few revs. If not disable the ignition and use the starter. Then replace the plugs, Hook up a water source, enable the ignition, and try to start it. If the motor starts, watch very closly for any water leaks. When finished running recheck the oil for any water symtoms, milky looking.

 

[tommays]

Re: want to know more please.

well the motor /drive is one thing BUT the boat hull is a big one to it needs to checked for wood rot and other problems<br /><br />down here boat Surveyors are pretty common and a good one will be able to tell you if its a money pit <br /><br />it doesent sound like you really no what to look for and need a pro to check it out which is much less money than finding the problems when its to late<br /><br />tomays

 

[mcarlito]

Re: want to know more please.

Thanks novicetech, I called the guy and this is what he told me. It's a fresh water boat used in Saranic Lake, NY, that's in the Adirondacks. Used and serviced 3 years ago. Has been sitting since. He said that every year he had to put in a $2.00 part to make it run but he couldn't tell me what it was. This person either pretended not to know or didn't. In fact he didn't know if the engine was a 2.5L or 3.0L until he looked in the original manual. It's a 3.0L. He is the original owner of the boat. It's an X-19 Glastron. What can that two dollar part be?? Any Clues?? I'm going to take a look at this boat on Thursday. Is there anything I should look for on the engine?? Is there a lot of air pollution devices on I/O engines??<br />Thanks alot for all your input.<br />Mike and son Zach thinking about taking on another boat project.

 

[novicetech]

Re: want to know more please.

Sorry myhuge, I have yet to purchase anything for a boat that only costs two dollars, and no theres not many air pollution devices on older boats. Also if you know anyone with boat expirience try to take tommays advice and have a friend or someone else help you check the boat out, they generally cost alot of money to repair unless you do it yourself.

 

[mcarlito]

Re: want to know more please.

Thanks to all for the input and honest advise. It's true that I lack boat experience and I'm well aware that it can be an expensive adventure if I make poor judements calls. I'll will move through this process with caution. I hope to report out on the boat on this site in hopes of gathering more information and sharing my experience with others. This site is great for people just like me.<br />Thanks again<br />Mike and son Zach moving Cautiously

 

[searay_89]

Re: want to know more please.

huge<br /><br />You've found this forum and I assume you've read some of the posts. You can see the problems that people encounter with boats that have been well maintained with yearly service. IMHO a boat that has been sitting for 3 years (especially throught the climate changes that occur in your region) needs a lot of attention before you should even attempt to start it. The carb is likely gummed up, fluids need changing, as mentioned pre-lube the cylinders, turn by hand if possible, the impeller is likely rotted. After spending time and effort with all of the above, and by some miracle the thing starts, you need to run it for a while on muffs and then check for cracks and fluid integrity. Then you need to run it on a lake and check again. The cheapest part that I have ever replaced on my boat is the drive plug seal washer, it's worth about $0.01 but I think the Merc dealer gets about $1.50 for it. I can't imagine a miracle $2 part.

 

[lowshovel1]

Re: want to know more please.

Look at it this way,Mike and Zach have them a good father and son project, good luck and have fun with it!! take photos,keep us posted and ask questions.

 

[lowshovel1]

Re: want to know more please.

Oh---Buy a service manual

 

[searay_89]

Re: want to know more please.

I agree that there is nothing like a good father/son project. If it wasn't for the kids I probably would have sold my boat a long time ago. They seem to appreciate its simple pleasures more every year. I do notice that when it's tubing or skiing time - they line up pretty quick - but when it's service or cleaning time - seems like I'm the only one around .....

 

[mcarlito]

Re: want to know more please.

So allow me to put some things into perspective so I don't come across like a total idiot. I have worked as a michinest, a cabinet maker building custom wall units and furniture, have worked with molded sheet plastics creating plexi bonnets for museums and well as custom mounts for specimens, and have just completed, with my son Zach, getting a 1962 crestliner with a 1966 johnson 60hp up and running. Rebuilt lower end, carb, fuel pump, lync and sync,etc. and used manuals to do alot of it and used this site to stear me in the right direction. I hate to blow my own horn but in this case, I thought it might be worth mentioning some of my background. I'm hoping that my there might be some transference of skills from my background to this type of work/hobby. My son wants to take on another project like this, not bad for a 15 year old I'd say. Sorry for this non mechanical response, I hope I'm not offending anyone with the above comments. This is a great site. People offer great suggestions and support and I'd like to do the same. Read some of my posts on my project. I'm not long winded so it's a quick read.<br />thanks again<br />Mike and son Zach looking to learn as much as possible and enjoy the journey.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: want to know more please.

sounds like ya have some ability. thats a good thing<br /> make sure it was properly winterized or you will be looking at a cracked block or manifold. you will most likly need to remove the fuel sender and clean the tank. then the carb and the fuel pump filter. the bellows will most likly be dry rotten. replace them before they fail. its a matter of recommisioning the beast. fix the beast before it fails and it always works and is cheaper than fixing it after it fails. but do a good inspection on the rest of the hull as well.

 

[Buttanic]

Re: want to know more please.

One of the likely problems is that when an engine sits for that long is sometimes oil seals sticks to the shaft from dried oil and the rubber seal tears when the shaft is turned. That would also apply to the out drive. I worked on one that sat for about 8 years and just about every seal on the outdrive tore.

 

[mcarlito]

Re: want to know more please.

Thanks to all, This post has given us a great insight as to how to approach this potiental project. Not sure if I'll buy the beast. As most of you know, money always seems to get in the way. I will certainly report out on my findings. Hope to see the boat tonight.<br />Thanks<br />Mike

 

[Olds Eddie]

Re: want to know more please.

I don't remember if anyone mentioned changing the outdrive oil. I always change mine before the first freeze of winter as any water that may have gotten in her will freeze and break expensive parts.

 

[mcarlito]

Re: want to know more please.

Well here's my findings. Went to see the boat this past Saturday morning. The person who is selling this boat brought a neat and originized file folder with the original manual in the original plastic, operators manual, receipts for services done on boat. He was very orginized but in the same breath, he is a man who relies on others to work on his boat. Not mechanically inclined. Had all the work done professionally. So the hour clock read 153.4 hours on the engine. In April of 2003, he had the boat serviced for spring operation. Tune up, Battery installed, service Drive, Trialer Bearings. Then in October of 2003 he had the boat winterized, oil change and filter, fog cyl. drain plug, rifill with anti-freeze, Stab. gas, and oil lower unit. It's been sitting for three years like that. All hoses, bellows, feel strong, no cracks. The boat is covered so the inside is clean and dry. Checked under the floor where ever I could and it was dry. Sub-structure strong and in good shape. Engine well dry, no leaks. Engine look as though it hadn't been used. The person I would estimate is in his late 60's and it's time to get rid of the boat. I didn't start it yet because I'm not sure I should just throw a battery on it and turn it over. If I could get the octane up in the gas tank by adding gas, should I turn it over to see what it does?? Money is still an issue so my classic boat would have to sell before I even begin to talk money with him. Any thoughts, comments, observations would be great. Thanks again.<br />My son wants me to buy the boat but of course he doesn't have to make any payment either!!!!!!!!!!